Ex-Michigan State star Paul Davis is EJECTED while watching Spartans… leaving coach Tom Izzo baffled
Michigan State Spartans basketball star Paul Davis was tossed from Monday’s blowout win over USC, which wouldn’t normally be news were it not for the fact that he graduated two decades ago.
The 41-year-old former NBA center and McDonald’s All-American was seated in the second row at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan when he was unexpectedly ejected by referee Jeffrey Anderson. Whatever Davis’ offending remark was, it remains a mystery.
‘A fan has been pointed out in the crowd,’ FS1 play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler said, without realizing the individual had started nearly 100 games for the Spartans across four seasons. ‘I believe the fan was a little too aggressive.’
Curious about the stoppage in play, Tom Izzo approached Anderson, who gestured in Davis’ direction, leaving the Hall-of-Fame Spartans coach stunned.
‘Now Tom Izzo is looking at the fan and saying: “What are you doing?”‘ Kugler said, omitting a profanity from the coach’s exact quote.
Color commentator and long-time NBA forward LaPhonso Ellis then piled on the fan, who remained unidentified on the broadcast.
Ex-Spartans star Paul Davis (in the grey-hooded sweatshirt) was tossed from Tuesday’s win
Tom Izzo was stunned to see former Spartan Paul Davis tossed from Monday’s win
Davis, who stands 6ft11, put his hands on his chest and followed security to the exit
‘That’s got to be an awkward feeling when you have one of the greatest coaches of all time in college basketball yelling at you from across the floor,’ Ellis said. ‘You feel real small right now.’
But before Ellis could finish, Davis was asked to leave – a decision Izzo clearly agreed with.
‘Get out of here!’ the 70-year-old former Jud Heathcote assistant could be seen yelling across the court.
Davis raised his 6ft11 frame, put his hands on his chest and followed security towards the exit. Interestingly, he appeared to be drinking a Twisted Tea at the arena, which only recently began allowing alcohol for spectators within the last year.
Daily Mail has sought comment from Davis via email and his LinkedIn page.
Izzo did address the incident after the game, although he stopped short of saying exactly what got Davis tossed.
Official Jeffrey Anderson reacts to Tom Izzo during Monday’s USC-Michigan State game
‘Let’s not get carried away. It wasn’t something racial, it wasn’t something sexual,’ Izzo told reporters, as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. ‘It was just the wrong thing to say. I’ll leave it at that.
‘I love Paul Davis, I really do. He’s one of my favorite guys. He’s always calling and doing things,’ Izzo continued. ‘What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world.
‘That ticked me off. Just because it’s 25, 20 years later, I’m gonna have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. And you know what he’ll say? “I screwed up, coach. I’m sorry.”
‘He kind of got after the official, and he was 150 percent wrong. And for a guy like me to 150 percent agree with the official, it’s almost illegal.’
Interestingly, the fiery Izzo has never been ejected from a game.
Paul Davis is seen during his playing days in East Lansing after suffering a cut
Paul Davis passes out turkeys and other donated items during the 28th Annual All Star Giveback: Thanksgiving Edition charity event at the Detroit Police Eighth Precinct in 2025
The No. 12 Spartans would go on to win, 80-51, to improve to 13-2 on the season. Next up for the Spartans: Another Big 10 matchup against visiting Northwester on Thursday.
Davis was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Clippers and played sparingly across three NBA seasons before a brief stint with the Washington Wizards and a few years playing in Spain and Russia.
These days he is a private client advisor at Acrisure, a global financial technology and insurance brokerage company. The company’s co-founder, chairman and CEO happens to be Greg Williams, who pledged more than $400 million to the school and athletic department just last month.
